Top uses for kiosks in the hospitality industry

Top uses for kiosks in the hospitality industry
Tags: Advertising, Airport Kiosks, Barcode Readers, Check-In Kiosks, Components, Customer Enrollment Kiosks, Customer Experience, Digital Signage, Employee Self-Service, Foodservice, Future Trends, Hardware, Hotels, Human Resources, Installation/Integration, Interactive / Touchscreen, Internet Kiosk, Kiosk Branding, Kiosk Design, Kiosk Enclosures, Kiosk Printers, Kiosk ROI, Kiosks, Loyalty, Loyalty Programs, Multifunction Kiosks, Self check-out systems, Self-Checkout, Self-Ordering, Service / Maintenance, Software, Trends / Statistics
February 28, 2011

The hospitality industry has obviously seen its share of challenges as travel and leisure budgets still border on "non-existent" for many Americans. Although the slumping economy has caused some industries to contract, hospitality is not a fad. It will not disappear, and the companies that have staying power are the ones that can keep budgets in check while creatively offering attractive options for customers.

Enter kiosks.

With each passing day, more and more people praise the benefits of self-service kiosks in hospitality environments (see these Kiosk Marketplace articles about kiosks at airports, restaurants and hotels), and they also express their desire to more frequently interact with self-service units.

This should be music to the ears of those who are trying to stay ahead of the curve (or just in business) in the hospitality industry. Most hospitality kiosks not only improve efficiency and productivity, they save money. What's not to like about these things?

In addition to the locations listed above, hospitality-related kiosks are often found in
chambers of commerce and convention centers. They're also a perfect fit for just about any city center, cultural attraction or other public venue that supports high traffic.

Before we run out of space, here's our list with more specific "Top Uses for Hospitality Kiosks." Keep in mind that kiosks can handle any number of applications, and users may be able to perform many of the following functions on a single unit.

Self-Serve Concierge
Companies such as Phoenix Kiosk have designed its own Virtual Receptionist software that can be used in any industry. Software can be customized to meet the additional needs of any hospitality business. These might include directory/wayfinding capabilities, ticket printing, phone connectivity (VoIP), etc.

Self-Serve Check-In/Check-Out
Guests appreciate the ability to quickly identify themselves, provide a form of payment (even if just for incidentals) and easily locate their room. Kiosks also provide another efficient way for guests to electronically check out of their rooms in a matter of seconds.

Internet/Business Services
A kiosk that is equipped with a printer, card reader and perhaps other peripherals, can essentially serve as its own business center. Guests can quickly access information, and print as necessary.

Boarding Pass Printing
Many guests scramble to print boarding passes for their air travel. Even if they wait until the last minute, this task can be performed easily at the time they check out.

Loyalty Programs
Kiosks are a perfect outlet for allowing guests to keep track of their loyalty programs. First-time guests can also sign up for programs, special coupons, e-newsletters, etc. This leads me to another great point – hospitality kiosks are excellent for branding and advertising. Kiosks can serve as 24/7 promotional tools.

Event Management/Scheduling
Meetings and conventions, receptions, and even city-wide events can be managed easily on a kiosk. Any type of information that needs to be relayed to guests can be provided.

Registration
Kiosks can be outfitted with high-quality label printers so arriving guests can easily register for an event and receive an attractive, printed name tag. This process can be handled with or without staff supervision.

Facility Directory
This simple function is worth focusing on because interactive kiosks are extremely valuable tools that provide abundant information in an inviting, compelling fashion. For example, when compared to a standard directory, just think how much more attractive a spa treatment or golf course can be displayed on an interactive, HD touch screen.

Internal/HR Applications
Due to high turnover and the large number of part-time employees in the hospitality industry, administration costs can quickly eat up a big chunk of the budget. Packaged HR software applications for kiosks can help alleviate this challenge. The Web-based software can handle everything from initial employee registration, to clock-in/clock-out, to vacation requests, to benefits management and updated forms/information.

There you have them, the "Top Uses for Hospitality Kiosks." We'll continue to take a look at different industries and relevant applications in future posts.